Apparatus for removing surplus spelter from galvanized articles



April 2, 1929- w. RAWLEY ET AL 1,707,770

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SURPLUS SPELTER FROM GALVANIZED ARTICLES Filed 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS wag April 1929- w. RAWLEY ET AL 1,707,770

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SURPLUS SPELTER FROM GALVANIZED ARTICLES Filed Nov. 13 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l L l --l I O l l i 39 i I I i l 7 April 2, 1929. w. RAWLEY ET AL 1,707,770

QPELTER FROM GALVANIZED ARTICLES APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SURPLUS Filed Nov. 15. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet a W i .CLIxIIiI L IIIII I;

April 1929- w. RAWLEY ET AL 1,707,770

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SURPLUS SPELTER FROM GALVANIZED ARTICLES Filed Nov. 13. 1924 4'Sh'eets$heet 4 INVENTOR S Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WAYNE RAWLEY AND ORAN D A. PLUSKEY, OP PITTSBURGH, PINNSYLVAN IA, AS- SIGNORS TO BLAW KNOX COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SURPLUS SPELTEB PRO! GALVANIZED ARTICLES.

Application filed November 13, 1824. Serial Io. 749,649.

The present invention relates to coating, and more particularly to the removal of surplus spelter from galvanized articles, such as angles or other structural shapes.

It is of great importance in galvanizing that the coating of zinc which is applied to the surfaces of the article shall be of uniform thickness throughout, because if it is thicker at certain places than at others it is much more likely to be peeled off at those places by shrinkage or contact with other materials during handling, thereby leaving exposed parts of the steel for corrosion. Therefore, the perfectness of the coating of zinc and the uniformity of the thickness of such coating is of greater importance than the thickness of the coating itself. Our present invention resides in a method and an apparatus for removing surplus spelter from galvanized articles involving the use of streams of air or other suitable fluid for that purpose. We have found that by suitably applying streams of air to the surfaces of "a galvanized article, the coating thereof is rendered uniform and its thickness can be regulated with .great accuracy. There is thus not only an improvement in the protection against corrosion, which is the object of galvanizing, but there is, also a saving in the amount of spelter required and a consequent saving in the cost of galvanizing.

In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated our invention as applied to the removal of surplus spelter from angles, but it will be apparent that by suitable modifica tions the same character of apparatus may be utilized for removing the surplus spelter from channels, I-beams or any other structural shapes.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of]; galvanizing apparatus, partly broken away, embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view on a larger scale of the portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 embodying our invention;

Figure 3 is a detail view showing a side elevation of the apparatus disclosed inFig. 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse horizontal section in the plane of line IVIV of Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a similar view ,in the plane of line V-V of Fig. 3;

Figure 6 is a detail view on a large scale illustrating one end of a portion of the rest on which the parts which have been galvanized are supported after they are lifted out of the bath;

Figure 7 is a detail view illustrating one of the nozzles located over a 'bar which has been galvanized, illustrating how the shape of the nozzle conforms to the shape of the galvanized piece; I

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 7 V

Figure 9 is a detail plan view of one of the nozzles for blowing against the under surface of a piece which has been galvanized;

Figure 10 is a detail view showing a side elevation of the nozzle disclosed in. Fig. 9 with apiece which has been galvanized suprted thereabove and disclosing how the ower nozzles conform to'the shape of the piece which has been dipped; and Figure 11 is a view similar to Fig. .8, showmg a nozzle provided with a single elonafed orifice in place of a plurality of small 0 es. We have illustrated our invention herein in connection with galvanizing a paratus of the character shown and descri d in our co-pendin application Serial No. 544,507, filed Mare 17, 1922.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, this apparatus comprises a charging platform 2 having sup rts 3 thereon for receiving the shapes 4 to galvanized. The shape, in the present instance angles, ma be supplied to the supports 3 in an desire manner but are preferably arrange thereon substantially as illustrated whereby they may be easily ins cted by an operator or operators on the c arging platform. From this platform the shapes may be delivered in groups of any desired-number to a galvanzing pot 5 by means of suitably-arranged charging conve ors 6. The shapes as discharged into the ga vanizing pot may be moved from one side thereof to the other by suitable pushers 7 and after the desired interval may be elevated from the spelter bath by a suitable elevating mechanism comprisin a crank 8 adapted to be operated by a handwheel 9.

Mounted upon the galvanizing pot adjacent one end thereof is a guide frame 10. At one side of this frame is the hood 11 which extends over the lower end of the conveyors 6. Bolted to the base of the guide frame is a support 12 for the work. This support has a serrated upper edge providing a number of projections 13 adapted to extend into the angles between the sides of the shapes 4, as illustrated more particularly in Figure 6. Intervening between the projections 13 are other and smaller projections 14. It will be seen that the serrated upper edge of the support 12 is so formed that the shapes 4 are only engaged by the support at the lower edges of the sides of the shapes. After the shapes have been elevated by means of the crank 8 and placed on thesupport, they may be drawn along the support by means of suitable hooks 15 (Figure 3) each connected at one end to a conveyor (not shown) and having its other end inserted in an opening in the end of the corresponding shape.

Mounted on top of the gulde frame is a vertically extending fluid .cylinder 16 having a piston 17 working therein. The cylinder is open to the atmosphere at its upper end and the piston has a piston rod 18 extending through a stufling box 19 at the lower end of the cylinder. The piston has its lower end reduced and screw threaded and this screw threaded end extends through the horizontal flange of an angle 20, the angle being secured to the piston by a nut 21. The angle 20 extends horizontally betweenthe sides of the guide frame and has bracket members 22 bolted to the ends thereof. These bracket members are slotted to receive vertical guide ribs 23 on the sides of the guide frame 10, whereby vertical movements of the angle 20 are guided.

The angle 20 constitutes a support for the upper blowing nozzles 24. These nozzles conform to the shape of the articles being galvanized and are connected to a pipe 25. The pipe 25 and nozzles 24 are secured to bars 26 adjustably and detachably mounted on the horizontal flange ofthe angle 20 by bolts 27 passing through slots 28 in the bars. This adjustable mounting of the bars '26 permits the upper nozzles to be adjusted horizontally and also permits of a rapid change to a different size or shape of nozzles. The pipe 25 and nozzles 24 are secured to vertical legs 29. of the bars 26 by U bolts 30. These U bolts also extend through a stop bar 31 which is slotted to'permit a slight vertical adjustment thereof. By reference to Figure 2, it will be seen that the lower edge of the stop bar projects slightly below the apexes of the angles between the.

sides of the nozzles 24. Vhen the piston 17 is permitted to descend in the cylinder16, the upper nozzles are prevented from descending into contact with the shapes by the stop bar 31 whose lower edge engages the corners of the shapes.

Associated with the support 12 is a set of lower nozzles 32 which conform to the shape of the articles to be galvanized and are integral with a pipe 33. These lower nozzles are adjustably clamped to the support 12 by bolts 34 and clamp lates 35. There are thus provided two sets 0 opposing nozzles, 24 and 32, one set below and one set above the shapes on the support 12, the upper nozzles being mounted so that they can be raised to allow placing the shapes on the support and lowered when the air is to be blown against the shapes.

Referring to Figures 7 to 10, inclusive, which are respectively an elevation of one of the upper nozzles, a bottom plan view thereof, a top plan view of one of the lower nozzles and a side elevation of the latter nozzle, the nozzles are preferably provided with a series of small holes 36, for the reason that small holes through which jets of air are blown are not likely to become plugged up or otherwise obstructed or to become distorted in use. These holes are preferably drilled so as to direct the streams of air against the surfaces of the shapes at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axes thereof. In F igures- 9 and 10, we have shown the lower nozzle provided with a short slot 37 at its apex in order to per- 'mit a relatively larger amount of air to be blown against the lower surface of the shape at the apex of the angle between its sides. While it is preferred to employ the series of small holes in the nozzles, a single slot 38, as shown in Figure 11, may be employed.

The lower nozzles may be connected by ermanent piping 39 to the supply line 40, w ile the upper nozzles are connected to the supply line through a flexible hose 41. It is desirable to provide a pressure regulator 42 in the pipe line 43 leading to the air cylinder 16 so as to render the latter independent of fluctuations in the pressure line which is used for blowing.

It is also desirable to provide a pressure regulator 44 in the blowing line so that the pressure may be adjusted therein to that most suitable for cleaning the work and regulating the thickness of the galvanizing coating. By providing two such pressure regulators, the proper air pressures are obtained in both the blowing line and the line leading to the air cylinder. A four-way valve 45, operated by a lever 46, is provided between the supply line 40 and the blowing line and the line leading to the air cylinder. Throwing the lever in one direction first stops the blowing process and lifts the upper nozzles from the work, while throwing the lever in the opposite .direction allows the upper nozzles to descend and then turns on the air for blowing. An angle valve 47 may also be provided in the line 43 leadin to the air cylinder so that that line may e operated independently whenever that is desirable.

It will be obvious that the jets of air blown against the surfaces of the shapes as they are withdrawn from the galvanizing pot on the support 12 will operate not only to clean the shapes and to blow off surplus spelter, but also that they will have some cooling effect and it is therefore possible, by regulating the speed with which the work is withdrawn from the spelter bath and the pressure of the air, not only to obtain the right thickness of spelter but also to chill the surface of the work sufiiciently to cause the spelter to congeal against it almost immediately after passing the nozzles. While it is believed pref erable. to employ air for removing the surplus spelter, the invention is not limited to the use of this fluid, as any other suitable fluid other than air may be employed.

The advantages of the present invention will be at once apparent from the foregoing. By employing streams of air directed against the surfaces of the galvanized articles, the thickness of the galvanizing coating can be nicely regulated and all impurities can be removed from the outside surfaces of the articles. Furthermore, it is possible by this method to secure a more uniform coating than is the case when the surplus metal coating is removed by scraping or when the articles are allowed to drip. Therefore, a thinner coating may be utilized, thereby effecting a saving in the amount of spelter employed.

While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of means for carrying out our improved process, the invention is not limited to the exact details shown, but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. Means for removing surplus spelter from galvanized shapes, comprising a supporting rest over which a plurality ofcoated shapes are adapted to be withdrawn from the spelter bath, means for withdrawing the shapes and groups of nozzles associated with the supporting rest for blowing streams of air against the upper and lower surfaces of the individual shapes as they are withdrawn.

2. Means for removing surplus spelter from galvanized shapes, comprising a support over which a plurality of coated shapes are adapted to be withdrawn from the spelter bath, nozzles for blowing streams of air against the upper and lower surfaces of the shapes asthe are withdrawn, and means for raising an lowering the nozzles for blowing the air against the upper surfaces of the shapes in order to permit the shapes to be placed on said support.

3. Means for removing surplus spelter from galvanized shapes, comprising a support over which a plurality of coated shapes are adapted to be withdrawn from the spelter bath, said support being shaped so as to make substantial line contact only with said shapes, a set of nozzles associated with said sup ort for blowin a fluid against the lower sur aces of said s apes as they are withdrawn, a set of nozzles for blowin a fluid against the upper surfaces of said shapes, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston for raising and lowering the upper set of nozzles, piping connecting said sets of nozzles and the fluid cylinder with a source of pressure fluid supply, and a single valve for controlling the supply of fluid to the nozzles and cylinder.

4. Means for removing surplus spelter from galvanized articles, including a sup porting rest, a nozzle supporting bracket, a plurality of nozzles on the bracket over the supporting rest, and means for moving the bracket toward and away from the supporting rest.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

WAYNE RAWLEY. ORAND A. PLUSKEY. 

